Categories
Travel

Travel goals #travelgoals

It’s September and that means back to school, routine and chaos! I am sure many of you are not even thinking about a vacation or traveling! However as parents we run around a lot with our kids and sometimes taking time off and planning a vacation is not always easy. BUT even if it’s a day trip, a quick visit to another city or a full blown trip around the world, getting away can be fun! We do love our weekend day trips to Boston and each year I map out where I would like to go on vacation. This year the kids want to go back to Florida (it is nice when you have friends you can stay with) as well as take a trip to San Francisco. Of course on my list is to take a trip to Italy and France! What are your travel goals this year?

Enjoying the sites in Boston from the car! #travel #travelblogger
Enjoying the sites in Boston from the car! #travel #travelblogger
Categories
Travel

Travel goals #travelgoals

It’s September and that means back to school, routine and chaos! I am sure many of you are not even thinking about a vacation or traveling! However as parents we run around a lot with our kids and sometimes taking time off and planning a vacation is not always easy. BUT even if it’s a day trip, a quick visit to another city or a full blown trip around the world, getting away can be fun! We do love our weekend day trips to Boston and each year I map out where I would like to go on vacation. This year the kids want to go back to Florida (it is nice when you have friends you can stay with) as well as take a trip to San Francisco. Of course on my list is to take a trip to Italy and France! What are your travel goals this year?

Enjoying the sites in Boston from the car! #travel #travelblogger
Enjoying the sites in Boston from the car! #travel #travelblogger
Categories
body wash shampoo

@SheaMoisture beauty products A review: #amillionwaystoshea

I like safe and effective beauty products and test out a lot of products. I love the Shea Moisture line and the company history is interesting, the products smell great and they work. Plus they are a natural, organic and a sustainably-produced line. Not all products can say that!  AND 10 % Of the Shea Moisture community commerce sales go to women-led business to support local communities where the ingredients come from.

Their web site says they strive to be sulfate free, paraben free and are tested on people not animals. The products in the Shea Moisture line use some pretty unique ingredients gathered from around the world and the background of this beauty line is interesting. Sofi Tucker started selling Shea Nuts at the village market in Bonthe, Sierra Leone in 1912. By age 19, the widowed mother of four was selling Shea Butter, African Black Soap and her homemade hair and skin preparations all over the countryside. This legacy continues today. Here are a few of the items I tested out.

The SheaMoisture Fruit Fusion Coconut Water Collection smells so good! The shampoo and conditioner is enriched with Fruit Infused Coconut Water, Imbe Oil and Certified organic Shea Butter (that is ethically sourced from seven women’s co-ops in Northern Ghana) A nice weightless formulation that gives a bit of boost to my hair!

The 10-in-1 Renewal System is great for older hair (lol…ok moms in their 30’s and 40’s!) The antioxidant-rich collection helps to perfect and renew vibrancy to dull, lackluster hair. I use this as a special treat for my hair. It is sulfate-free has anti-aging benefits (no more frizz), color protection and your hair is super soft!

I love the bars of soap and body lotion too. The superfruit organic complex bar soap has Shea and Mango Butter and the superfruit complex of Raspberry Ketone, Goji, Acai and Guava extracts to nourish skin. I do notice when I use this that my skin is much smoother and it also lathers very well. Check out all their products as they have something for everyone. In fact they have a new web app #amillionwaystoshea in which you can upload a photo and answer some questions on which product is best for you!

Disclosure: Shea Moisture sent me the items above to test out and review. All opinions in this blog post are my own.

Shea Moisture

safe, healthy beauty products from Shea Moisture
safe, healthy beauty products from Shea Moisture
Categories
body wash shampoo

@SheaMoisture beauty products A review: #amillionwaystoshea

I like safe and effective beauty products and test out a lot of products. I love the Shea Moisture line and the company history is interesting, the products smell great and they work. Plus they are a natural, organic and a sustainably-produced line. Not all products can say that!  AND 10 % Of the Shea Moisture community commerce sales go to women-led business to support local communities where the ingredients come from.

Their web site says they strive to be sulfate free, paraben free and are tested on people not animals. The products in the Shea Moisture line use some pretty unique ingredients gathered from around the world and the background of this beauty line is interesting. Sofi Tucker started selling Shea Nuts at the village market in Bonthe, Sierra Leone in 1912. By age 19, the widowed mother of four was selling Shea Butter, African Black Soap and her homemade hair and skin preparations all over the countryside. This legacy continues today. Here are a few of the items I tested out.

The SheaMoisture Fruit Fusion Coconut Water Collection smells so good! The shampoo and conditioner is enriched with Fruit Infused Coconut Water, Imbe Oil and Certified organic Shea Butter (that is ethically sourced from seven women’s co-ops in Northern Ghana) A nice weightless formulation that gives a bit of boost to my hair!

The 10-in-1 Renewal System is great for older hair (lol…ok moms in their 30’s and 40’s!) The antioxidant-rich collection helps to perfect and renew vibrancy to dull, lackluster hair. I use this as a special treat for my hair. It is sulfate-free has anti-aging benefits (no more frizz), color protection and your hair is super soft!

I love the bars of soap and body lotion too. The superfruit organic complex bar soap has Shea and Mango Butter and the superfruit complex of Raspberry Ketone, Goji, Acai and Guava extracts to nourish skin. I do notice when I use this that my skin is much smoother and it also lathers very well. Check out all their products as they have something for everyone. In fact they have a new web app #amillionwaystoshea in which you can upload a photo and answer some questions on which product is best for you!

Disclosure: Shea Moisture sent me the items above to test out and review. All opinions in this blog post are my own.

Shea Moisture

safe, healthy beauty products from Shea Moisture
safe, healthy beauty products from Shea Moisture
Categories
make-up Uncategorized

All you need in your make-up bag @janeiredale #mineral #ad

I am always looking for products that are easy to use and multi-functional products are always nice too!  That is why I love Jane Iredale’s products. The mineral make-up line has been around a while but always comes out with innovative products. The company sent me several items to test out and review and here are the results.

You know when you are on the go and need a touch up but don’t want to bring the eye shadow, liner and applicator, etc. – well Jane Iredale has this mystikol eye which is a  liner/shadow all in one and it is great. It is compact and creates a soft, smoky eye effect. Great colors too in a slim, eyeliner design.

How many of us use SPF on our hands??? Well you should and that is why I like this staple in my make-up bag. Hand Drink is the item to keep in your car too- it is a hand cream with an SPF 15 and is ultra hydrating. I liked the smell of it – like roses but it is a bit strong – my kids didn’t like.

I never have individual eye shadows in my make-up bag as it takes up too much room!  Jane Iredale’s naturally matte eye shadow kit is perfect for gals on the go as it includes five blendable shades and the colors are so light but look very nice. Plus it is a very slim case so perfect for on the go.

Lip Fixation  is my go to product. It is a lip stain on one end and a gloss on the other. It really is the only product that stays on my lips! I have had several of these over the years actually and finally got to test out a color that is new to me –Cherish – which is a bubblegum pink and sheer frosted gloss. I make it lighter or darker depending on the lip liner I use. Plus with this you always have gloss with you.

 

 

I always admire the Jane Iredale packaging and the Sugar & Butter Lip Exfoliator/Plumper comes in a cute little gold case!  It is lip exfoliator/plumper duo and is an on the go lifesaver. No need for any lip balm when you wake up in the morning use the exfoliator and then wipe and immediately put on the plumper and you are set to go!

Now to go empty out all my old make-up and replace with the new Jane Iredale make-up.

Disclosure: The company sent me the above products to test out. All opinions in this blog post are my own.

Jane Iredale fun, new make-up
Must have make-up from Jane Iredale

Categories
self tanner

Looking to extend that natural sun-kissed glow? Try @beautisol #ad

Well for us in the northeast summer is over but that does not mean your tan has to fade!  I am always one to use a great spf and then a self-tanner too for a bit of color. I have tried a lot of self-tanners over the years and am always looking for a natural, safe line. One that I just discovered is beautisol. It smells great and is cruelty free and vegan formulated without parabens.

I tested out the Medium Self-Tanning Mousse. What I liked is that it is lightweight, quick drying and offers a natural sun kissed glow. No orange at all. This is the best self-tanner I have tried in a while (and I have tried everything from lotions to gradual to spray tanning) and it lasts.

It does have a nice sent which most of the self-tanning products on the market do not. Their website says, “Beautisol’s odor eliminating fragrance technology, PURE SCENT, helps to neutralize the unpleasant processing odors that self-tanners are famous for by up to 80%.” and I agree – no weird smell.

I love how all products are PETA certified and are free of parabens, propylene glycol, sodium laurel and laureth sulfate. They have a line of other lotions, exfoliating mitts and application mitts – check them out!

Disclosure: The company sent me the mousse to test out. All opinions in this blog post are my own.

beautysol self tanner - quick, easy and no self tan odor!
beautisol self tanner – quick, easy and no self tan odor!

 

Categories
chocolate Products Uncategorized

@harborsweetslaunchesGather chocolate

Gather, The newest purpose-driven chocolate by Salem based Harbor Sweet launches today!

This small batch chocolate line will support a cause critical to the environment: protecting honeybees. The chocolate comes in a beautiful package presented with six distinct taste experiences unified by dark chocolate and a subtle note of local wildflower honey.

The taste and combination of the chocolate and the honey is unlike any other chocolate I have tasted (and I eat a lot of cholate!) What is also nice about this chocolate is a portion of sales will be donated to the Pollinator Partnership which is a 501c3 NGO that educates and advocates best beekeeping practices for honeybee protection.

The honeycomb shaped box showcases six individually shaped honey-infused chocolates including three truffles: caramelized honey, pomegranate molasses and sour cherry and three dark chocolate: cashew caramel, coconut cluster and sesame crunch. They almost look too pretty to eat!  But of course once you have one you will eat the whole box.  The six piece box is $12.50 and the 12-piece box is 18.50. Perfect for holiday gift giving or a hostess gift –Instead of brining wine to a social gathering bring a box of Gather and you will be the hit of the party! Harbor Sweets has been producing handcrafted artisan chocolates from its historic red brick building in Salem and is sold online here and at fine gourmet grocers and gift shops.

New chocolate from harbor sweets called Gather
New chocolate from harbor sweets called Gather

Disclosure:  Harbor Sweets sent me a box of Gather to taste and review. All opinions in this blog post are my own.

 

 

Categories
chocolate Products

@harborsweetslaunchesGather chocolate

Gather, The newest purpose-driven chocolate by Salem based Harbor Sweet launches today!

This small batch chocolate line will support a cause critical to the environment: protecting honeybees. The chocolate comes in a beautiful package presented with six distinct taste experiences unified by dark chocolate and a subtle note of local wildflower honey.

The taste and combination of the chocolate and the honey is unlike any other chocolate I have tasted (and I eat a lot of cholate!) What is also nice about this chocolate is a portion of sales will be donated to the Pollinator Partnership which is a 501c3 NGO that educates and advocates best beekeeping practices for honeybee protection.

The honeycomb shaped box showcases six individually shaped honey-infused chocolates including three truffles: caramelized honey, pomegranate molasses and sour cherry and three dark chocolate: cashew caramel, coconut cluster and sesame crunch. They almost look too pretty to eat!  But of course once you have one you will eat the whole box.  The six piece box is $12.50 and the 12-piece box is 18.50. Perfect for holiday gift giving or a hostess gift –Instead of brining wine to a social gathering bring a box of Gather and you will be the hit of the party! Harbor Sweets has been producing handcrafted artisan chocolates from its historic red brick building in Salem and is sold online here and at fine gourmet grocers and gift shops.

New chocolate from harbor sweets called Gather
New chocolate from harbor sweets called Gather

Disclosure:  Harbor Sweets sent me a box of Gather to taste and review. All opinions in this blog post are my own.